49ers in London – Random thoughts

–Justin Smith doesn’t remember when his hand “broke open” against the Raiders. He needed five stitches to close the wound. Smith hasn’t missed a game in his 10-year career and isn’t on the injury report.

David Carr can’t be happy this week.

-One move the 49ers made that could prove right this week is going to London early. Smith said the team’s clocks adjusted about Thursday.

-Singletary said they will cut down on Troy Smith’s ability to audible because of his inexperience with the offense. Joe Staley also said the responsibility for a lot of the protection adjustments will revert to the offensive line. Against Carolina, the line had several protection breaks with Panthers running free to the quarterback out of four-man pressures.

-Staley and Singletary believe the rainy, dank weather sets up well for a physical, run-oriented game which could set up well for the 49ers.

-I get asked all the time if Singletary is losing his grip on the team. I don’t know for sure, but he certainly has players challenging his decisions. David Carr did this week and Takeo Spikes, in today’s story by David White, pounced on Singletary’s weak logic that he’s saving Spikes for the playoffs. Spikes said, “If we ain’t winning, ain’t nobody going to be saved for the season.” Singletary should know the playoffs are now. These are must wins.

MORE ON SMITH VS. CARR: Many of you concluded that Alex Smith is out, Carr sucks, so why not start Troy Smith? Carr was ineffective against Carolina, but he was making the right reads. If he got a week of practice where he was making throws 10 times during practice, he probably makes that throw in the game. He’s a veteran, he knows the offense, and he’s been at least as good as Alex Smith in his career under challenging circumstances. To instead gamble with a younger player with only seven weeks in the offense seems unnecessarily risky against a team that’s back pedaling on defense.

Singletary, of course, knows more about the situation than anybody else. It’s possible players came to him and said they had no confidence in Carr. After Alex Smith was nearly benched against the Eagles, running back Frank Gore said after the game that he didn’t want Carr to relieve Smith. But that was with a healthy Alex Smith as the alternative.

The more likely scenario is that Singletary never wanted Carr in the first place. He was one of the last signings of Scot McCloughan. Singletary might be opting for Troy Smith because Singletary likes him and had a hand in signing him. That might be part of the reason Singletary opts for NaVorro Bowman over Takeo Spikes as the nickel linebacker, because Singletary had a hand in Bowman becoming a 49er. But this is no time for ego. This is the time to play the best players.